Stability and Mobility of Functionalized Silica Nanoparticles for Enhanced Oil Recovery Applications

Abstract

For any possible application of hard nanoparticles as an improved oil recovery agent, it is necessary to have a stable wettability modifier with improved mobility properties under broader oil reservoir conditions. Typical oil reservoir conditions with high temperature, pH and electrolytes concentration modifies the way that nanoparticles interact with the solution. In this work, the wettability and fluid diffusivity at the molecular level were studied through Molecular Dynamics simulation. We have studied the stability and mobility of functionalized (hydroxylated, PEG and sulfonic acid) silica nanoparticles for enhanced oil recovery applications, particularly at high salt concentration and high temperature. In order to stabilize the interfacial energy in the nanoparticle-brine interface, ions tend to modify the transport properties of the nanoparticle itself. We have observed an increasing in the diffusion coefficients for nanoparticles with increasing salt concentration at 300K and 0.1 MPa pressure. Our calculations also indicate that adsorption properties and salt solutions greatly influence the interfacial tension in an order of CaCl2 > NaCl. This effect was found to be due to the difference in distribution of ions in solution, which modifies the hydration and electrostatic potential of those ions near the nanoparticle. The brine/oil interfacial tension variation due to functionalized silica nanoparticles was also determined as a function of the terminal group hydrophobicity at 1% salt concentration (CaCl2 and NaCl), 300K and 0.1 MPa pressure.

A review on applications of nanotechnology in the enhanced oil recovery part A: effects of nanoparticles on interfacial tension

“…In the past decade, most investigations have shown that nanoparticles (NPs) offer promise for future EOR processes where silica-based NPs have been most commonly used [9][10][11][12][13]. Although the oil displacement mechanism via NPs is not yet clearly understood [14][15][16], the nanotechnology is now chosen as an alternative method to unlock the remaining oil resources and applied as a new EOR method in last decade [10][11][12][17][18][19][20].…”

“…Although the oil displacement mechanism via NPs is not yet clearly understood [14][15][16], the nanotechnology is now chosen as an alternative method to unlock the remaining oil resources and applied as a new EOR method in last decade [10][11][12][17][18][19][20]. polymeric microspheres and nanospheres have been applied as water mobility control both as a pilot and full-field, and showed fantastic results in reducing water cut, increasing sweep efficiency and improving oil recovery [21][22][23].…”

A review on applications of nanotechnology in the enhanced oil recovery part B: effects of nanoparticles on flooding

“…In the past decade, most investigations have shown that nanoparticles (NPs) offer promise for future enhanced oil recovery (EOR) processes where silica-based NPs have been most commonly used [9][10][11][12][13]. Although the oil displacement mechanism with NPs is not yet clearly understood [14][15][16], the nanotechnology is now chosen as an alternative method to unlock the remaining oil resources and applied as a new enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method in the last decade [10][11][12][17][18][19][20].…”

“…Although the oil displacement mechanism with NPs is not yet clearly understood [14][15][16], the nanotechnology is now chosen as an alternative method to unlock the remaining oil resources and applied as a new enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method in the last decade [10][11][12][17][18][19][20]. Polymeric microspheres and nanospheres have been applied as water mobility control both as a pilot and full field and showed fantastic results in reducing water cut, increasing sweep efficiency and improving oil recovery [21][22][23].…”

Polymeric nanospheres as a displacement fluid in enhanced oil recovery

“…The nanotechnology is now chosen as an alternative method to unlock the remaining oil resources and applied as a new enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method in last decade (Ju et al 2006;Ogolo et al 2012;Miranda et al 2012;Roustaei et al 2012;Hendraningrat et al 2013a;Hendraningrat and Torsaeter 2014a, b). Das et al (2008) defined ''Nano'' as one billionth (10 -9 ) in science term and nanofluids as suspensions of nanoparticles in base fluids (include saline water, oil, bio-fluids, polymer solutions, etc.).…”